Of all the issues that affect regional people, access to water is always at the top of the list. Without water, we all know that we don’t have a sustainable agricultural industry and we don’t have jobs in rural areas.
While we all know and understand this, it seems the Palaszczuk Government doesn’t. The Queensland Labor Government was offered $30 million towards 15 major water infrastructure feasibility studies to secure Queensland’s water supply but refused to take the federal government up on its offer. They’ve also been offered $130 million for the Rookwood Weir in Capricornia.
Rural and regional areas are crying out for these projects to go ahead but Labor’s inaction is holding up projects right across the state, including feasibility studies into Clermont’s Water Security, the Urannah, Nullinga and Emu Swamp Dams and the Burdekin Haughton Channel Capacity Upgrade.
Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, established the $500 million National Water Infrastructure Fund to boost water security for farmers across the nation - $50 million to undertake the detailed planning necessary to guide future investment decisions and the remaining $450 million to build dams.
In an extraordinary step, the Deputy PM has had to resort to literally throwing $50 notes at a camera to get the point across to the Palaszczuk Government. But Labor doesn’t seem interested in providing boosting water supplies for regional Queenslanders.
The issue reminds me of the vegetation management changes Labor tried to inflict on primary producers. They tried to convince the bush they were on our side and they still tell anyone who listens that they’re in touch with regional Queensland. But when they’re back in George Street, it’s a totally different story.
The water problems facing our state aren’t going away. We have good plans on the table, with so much potential. But they’re going nowhere.
I would like to know what the Palaszczuk Government’s plans are for Queensland’s regional water security. If they aren’t going to accept funds from the Federal Government, what do they intend to do? This is not something that can be put onto the back burner. The money is on the table and we need action now.
- Deb Frecklington, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
